Federal agents in Texas say they stopped a Chinese national from leaving the country with sensitive cancer research that he allegedly attempted to smuggle back to China.
Yunhai Li, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, joined the institution in 2022 on a State Department research exchange visa. His work, partly funded by the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health, focused on a vaccine to prevent breast cancer from metastasizing.
90 GB of Data Uploaded
Investigators allege that Li uploaded nearly 90 gigabytes of confidential research data to his personal Google Drive. Although he later deleted it after being questioned, authorities believe he also transferred the data to the Chinese server Baidu.
Court documents show Li also received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and continued his employment at Chongqing Medical University without disclosure — a violation of U.S. federal grant rules.
Arrest at Houston Airport
Li resigned from MD Anderson on July 1. Eight days later, he attempted to board a flight to China at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. Customs and Homeland Security agents searched his devices and allegedly discovered unpublished research data, drawings, and models described as trade secrets.
In a signed statement, Li reportedly admitted the data was his to take, writing: “This is a product of my efforts over the last three years. I believe I have a right to possess and retain this data.” He also claimed he feared the research would “go to waste.”
Charges and Bond
Li was charged in Harris County with theft of trade secrets and tampering with a government record. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Federal prosecutors are also reviewing the case.
“There was a pretty good chance that he was going to get deported or leave the country, so we needed to file something,” Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said. “We needed to make sure he was going to stay here, the information was going to stay here, and he was going to be held accountable.”
Li was released on $5,100 bond and surrendered his passport as part of his release conditions.
Pattern of Security Concerns
MD Anderson faced a similar case in 2019, when three Chinese researchers were dismissed over suspicions of attempted data theft. The hospital confirmed Li is no longer employed but did not comment on its vetting procedures or whether patient data was compromised.
A State Department spokesperson said under the Trump administration visa applicants will face “the maximum extent” of screening to ensure compliance with U.S. security standards.
“The Trump administration is focused on protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the spokesperson told Blaze News.
